Pages

Friday, June 29, 2018

Happy Friday!

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful week! I can't believe the 4th of July is almost here. I can't wait to spend the day outside. Chandler and I didn't have the most thrilling night last night. Last night we saw that one of Diesel's feet was irritated. We tried to clean it as best as possible. If you look on my Instagram stories you will actually see that we wrapped his foot in one of my socks to keep him from licking the Neosporin. He looked so adorable and unhappy all at the same time haha! We both just hope that it's nothing too serious and that he doesn't have to go to the vet.

Below are this week's weekly round up articles! Since the 4th of July is here, all of the food recipes are themed for the holiday. P.S. you're going to want to make all of them!

Food:

Once I started searching 4th of July food, the first recipe I stumbled upon was this 4th of July fudge recipe from Crayons and Cravings. I know so many people that love fudge and I think this recipe is perfect for a fun 4th of July dessert!

The second I saw these cupcakes from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt I instantly thought of the Avengers. I know, that's a little nerdy haha! If you're into Marvel or just love a simplistic but fun design, then this recipe is for you!

Have you ever had a poke cake before? I know I hadn't until I found this recipe from Daily Dose of Design. The recipe is really straight forward and takes you step by step each part of the cake. It's festive and looks really delicious!

I've never made or had a cakesicle. Have you? Gretchen from Wow Is That Really Edible shared this fun recipe for 4th of July themed cakesicles that look too good to eat! Just kidding, I'll eat it no matter how pretty it is haha! This dessert is perfect for kids and adults.

Warm summer months mean fun in the sun and long days at the beach. Unfortunately, it also means the chance for chafing. I'll be 100% honest and say that it happens to me. It's not a fun thing to talk about but it happens to everyone. Cosmo shared some awesome anti-chafing products that are great for the summer or any time of the year that the issue pops up.

The item in this next article actually started as an April Fool's joke but has become something pretty great! If you've ever felt so uncomfortable on a pool float because your boobs were getting smushed, then this new float is for you! It actually has a hole in it for your boobs. This is one of those times where I go, why didn't I think of that?

I LOVED the Wonder Woman movie that came out earlier this year. After I watched it I instantly felt like a total badass who could do anything. I heard there was a second one coming out and Cosmo shared some spoilers. If you're curious, check out the article below.

I found the funniest, realest account this week called Hipmomma007. She posts the best life photos ever. She always has a letter board with a funny phrase on it to describe the life moment she's talking about. If you want a good laugh, check out her profile!

I love maxi dresses. Fun fact: I used to hate them! Looking back I don't really know why but I was totally against them. Now, they're one of my favorite things to wear. Loren from Wear and When Blog shared the cutest maxi dress on her Instagram this week that I really want!

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Happy Wednesday!

We made it to the middle of the week. Woohoo!! I always love Wednesdays because I know that I have accomplished at least half a week's worth of work/chores/etc. It's a great little pick me up! If I haven't really accomplished much, it's a good reminder to myself to be like okay, you didn't start off too hot but you can still finish strong! Either way, there's a positive way to look at it.

Today I am sharing this canary yellow dress from Endless Rose. I have been loving all shades of yellow right now (mustard, lemon, even some golden yellow). I will say that once I got these photos back I was like holy crap do I need a tan! Haha! This dress definitely comes with a tan requirement.

What I love most about this dress is that for small chested people like myself, you don't really have to wear a bra with it and you guys know I'm all about that life! It ties at the neck allowing you to set the desired length. I will say that I am wearing a size medium in this dress and the chest area is not that big even for me. If you have anything above a B cup (and that might even be pushing it) then I wouldn't recommend this. I say this because the keyhole in the middle is decently wide and it could be pretty revealing. I chose to pair this dress with this straw bucket bag from Ellen & James with some flip flops for a casual beach look!

Shop the post:

JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Happy Tuesday!

My current workout schedule leaves Sundays for my recovery days. On these days I am not doing any LISS (on purpose for 45-60 min.) or weight training. This allows my body to rest and get ready for the week ahead. Usually on Sundays I'm at the horse stable, but there's also other ways that I use the rest of my recovery days. Below are three ways that I (and you can too) use recovery days.

1. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.

This is something I really need to do more often. I do a terrible job at not doing anything/living in the moment. It can be one of the hardest things to do for people who always feel like there's always something that needs to be done. I know I've always struggled with this and am really trying to work on it. Rather than stressing and focusing my attention on a billion chores that could be done, I only let myself do a few and then after that I let myself relax and/or work on things I enjoy like my blog!

2. Stretching.

Stretching has become a big part of my life ever since I hurt myself. Even if you have never had an injury, stretching is one of the most important things you can do for yourself every single day. It helps keep you flexible and it can even prevent you from hurting yourself in the future! Below are some of my favorite stretches that really help my low back and body overall.a) Child's Pose

So many of my stretches come from yoga, a newfound love of mine in the past two years. Yoga stretches are amazing for your flexibility, recovery and strength overall. This position in particular helps to stretch the hips and thighs while also reducing stress and fatigue. To learn more about this pose you can click here for a tutorial from Yoga Outlet or here for a YouTube how to video!

b. Lower Back and Hip Twist Stretch

I LOVE this one! This really stretches out my hips which is where a lot of my tension usually lies. I usually hold this pose on both sides for a minimum of 45 seconds to a minute. It feels that good! I start by pulling one leg in with the other leg straight and then pulling the bent leg across to the other side. Whichever way you twist, make sure that you're laying your head in the opposite direction. Click here to see a video!

c. Pigeon Pose

What I love about this yoga pose is that you determine how much of a stretch you want. You can either stay on your hands, or lower down for a deeper stretch. Everyone has different flexibility, so don't force yourself to lower down if you can't. Also, you'll see that I don't completely touch the ground. My whole life I have never been able to do a split and that's just how I'm made. You'll see in the video I've linked that she is. Just know that both ways are right and that the stretch is what matters! Click here to see a video on how to do it.

3. Taking a walk.

One of my favorite things to do is to go on a walk. It's easy to multi-task (i.e. watch TV or read) while you do it, and it's the best way to clear your head after a long day. It gives you the time you need to think about everything that's on your mind. If you have a dog, leash them up and take them out! It's as good for them as it is for you.

Shop the post:

JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.

Monday, June 25, 2018

Happy Monday Everyone!

My name is Diesel and I have decided to start a blog. However, I has no money to starts one. So, my mommy said I could just write on hers instead. I've been thinking long and hard about what I wanted to share with you guys and I have decided to talk about my life with all of you. So...where to begin?

Well, this weekend I went to my grandma and grandpa's house with Oscar and Felix because mommy's cousin (I think that's what he's called) was in town. I love meeting new people! I have a ton of puppy friends from my home so I was excited to meet another hooman. This hooman's name was Joel. Now, I wasn't too sure about him at first because Aiden (my brotha) barked at him through the window when he first came. I instantly went into guard dog mode because well, it was guard dog time. I was jumping on him and barking at him but eventually I decided that he was ok. My mommy seemed happy to see him so then I was happy to see him.

But since I still wasn't sure from time to time, I made sure to drool all over his pants. It was really funny because he had to wash them that night because he didn't like it. Mission accomplished.

The next day was kind of ruff at first. Aiden and I got into a fight. It really freaked remi (my sista) out and she didn't want to play with me for a while. Don't worry though, we played again later with this GIANT stick outside. I play with sticks sometimes but this stick is AMAZING. I never fetched it though. I made her do all the work and then I would try to take it from her or make her chase me with it. It was fun.

Then, I learned A NEW GAME! It was called fetch the shuttle cock. Now, my mommy and daddy and grandma and Joel were making jokes about the shuttle cock the whole time. If you didn't know what a shuttle cock was either, it is also called a birdie. I know all abouts birds. I try to chase them by the pond at my house all the time but my mommy never lets me. However, these birds flew differently. My parents kept hitting them with a racket over a net. P.S. Aiden peed on that net later hahahahaha. But, every time they would drop it, it was my duty and responsibility to make sure I retrieved it and then never gave it back. #earnedit. After playing I was exhausted. I took a nice long nap, ate my dinner and then hung out with all the hoomans. Oh before I forgets, Oscar or Felix got in trouble that night. They pooped on mommy's PJ's on her bed! I was like oooooooooooooooooooh you guys are in troubleeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I'm not sure who did it or why but mommy wasn't too happy. It was kinda funny though hehehe.

The next day was the last day at grandma's house. We had a nice breakfast with the hoomans, played a little more and then I slept for the whole car ride back. All in all it was a great weekend with my parents, Oscar, Felix, grandparents and Joel. I think I like him now.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Happy Friday!

How was everyone's week? Did anyone do anything exciting? I'd love to hear in the comments below. My week was pretty good. I'm off today so a four day week always goes by faster! This weekend I'm headed back home to see my parents and my cousin that I don't get to see that often. The last time I saw him was last September and before that I think it had been like three years. It's so hard to see family all the time when they live in different states and even countries. But, it makes it that much better when you do see them!

Below are the articles from today's weekly round up post. I hope you all love them!

Food:

I love Greek food. The marinades and flavors are just so good! I stumbled upon this recipe for a Greek chicken marinade from Foodie Crush and I really want to try it. If you love Greek food too, check out the recipe below!

I love salty and sweet combo's. One of my faves growing up was chicken ramen noodles with Trolli sour brite gummi worms (on the side). I know that's a REALLY weird combo but it's legit so good. While I'm one of the very few people in the world who does not like chocolate, this recipe for Smoreo Popcorn sounds awesome for those who also love salty and sweet combo's! This would be perfect for a movie night.

Happy almost 4th of July! I love how festive things get on this holiday. There's so many decorations, BBQ's, and delicious desserts. The recipe below from Sugar and Charm honestly looks too good to eat. Check out the link below for a festive and delicious 4th of July cake!

I love Acai bowls! There's so many different variations you can make, including popsicles! I've never thought that I could turn this into a popsicle before even though now it seems like such an obvious thought. These will definitely be great for those warm summer days ahead!

So, I just found out when Season 3 of This Is Us launches and I am freaking out of excitement. I'm so obsessed with this show because it depicts real life so well. I cry pretty much every episode (I don't think I've ever not haha). Below is an article with some spoilers of what to expect in season three and trust me it's good!

Instagram released a HUGE announcement this week. Now, when you go to the app there is a section called IG TV! Now you can watch longer videos within this section, upload your own, and create your own IG TV channel. For more info, check out the article below!

I'm not always a big fan of cover-ups. I've always just brought soffee shorts and a tank top to the beach. But every now and then I find one that I like! Jenna from Styled Jen shared this stunning mint green cover-up on her Instagram that would look so pretty on top of any suit.

Where are all of my girl boss' at?! I love a good power suit. I feel fierce and confident instantly! This purple linen suit that Camila Coelho shared on her Instagram made me feel like I could conquer any board room meeting!

I love tassel details on pretty much any style: dresses, shorts, cover-ups, you name it! Lauren from Life To Lauren shared the cutest tassel back tunic from her dinner the other night and I seriously want it!

I love every shade of pink and red for the most part. The colors look so great on pretty much everyone! Kat Tanita shared this gorgeous dress on her Instagram this week and the color looks absolutely stunning on her. Not to mention she matches the beautiful flowers in the photo too!

Monday, June 18, 2018

Happy Monday everyone!

How was everyone's weekend? To all the dads out there, I hope you had a wonderful Father's Day. I spent the weekend with the animals while Chandler was back home. I was a little worried at first having all of the animals by myself but it was super easy! I was able to take Diesel and Neville out together and they got a ton of play time at the park. I also went to the stable this weekend and didn't fall off this time! While I was there I also gave King and Brandy a bath and I'm sure it felt really good since it was so hot out.

Today's blog post is all about this green maxi dress from Free People. This dress has multiple layers and it does have some weight to it. I was actually surprised at how heavy it was when I picked up my package! In addition to the layers, it also has some openings near the hip on both sides to add a little extra detail to the dress. There are ties on both sides at these openings so you can tie it tighter so it's not as revealing. I will say that the openings come up pretty high, so I wouldn't wear any colored underwear with this or else it'll be seen.

The straps at the top are also adjustable. I tied mine a little tighter since I have a smaller chest. The top part of the dress really has some room to it so just be aware of that if you also have a smaller chest. In other words, if it's not secure, don't lean too far forward haha! I do love this dress and it would be perfect for any summer occasion.

Friday, June 15, 2018

Happy Friday!

How was everyone's week? I'm so ready for the weekend! Diesel's best friend Neville is staying with us until Monday so I can't wait to take them to the park, go riding again, and get ahead on some blog posts! I actually haven't been to the stable since I fell off because I went out of town the week after. So, I'm really excited to get back on that horse haha!

I love peanut butter. I think that everyone has it when they're kids and the love for it never goes away! Skinny Taste shared a how to make nut butters blog post which was really insightful. Who knew it was so simple!

I discovered a food blogger name Leigh Anne Wilkes, also known as Your Home Based Mom this week and she is fabulous! I found two recipes that go pretty well together if you ask me. I even found one right after the other too and not on purpose! Leigh Anne shared two recipes for a homemade pizza dough and pizza sauce.

So I've never heard of this before but it sounds really interesting. I've made zucchini noodles, I've even gotten the veggie pasta before but I've never heard of arugula pasta! I've always wanted to make pasta from scratch and this recipe could be my first try.

With Father's Day happening this Sunday, I've seen some really fun gift guides and other cute posts. Cosmopolitan shared a post about 20 Sweet and Relatable Things Celebrities Have Said About Their Dads and it really is thoughtful.

Women need to empower other women constantly. Miley Cyrus demonstrated awesome girl power/friendship when she defended Selena Gomez from Dolce and Gabbana's designer when they called her ugly. I don't understand why people are so cruel over the internet. #stoptrolling #whyyougottabesorude

I'm not sure if I've shared this before but I'm originally from Mount Dora, FL. It is the cutest little town and always has something fun going on. I discovered Jeanette from J's Everyday Fashion this week and saw that she had recently visited! I was so excited/proud haha. Check out her post below.

I have been following Aggie from Travel_inhershoes since I started blogging. I think she is absolutely incredible and has such a sweet spirit. I really want to go on an adventure with her someday too! If I could share every post that she has ever shared on here I totally would. But today, I have to show this incredible photo from her trip to Morocco. Trust me ya'll, it's stunning!

Venessa from We The Classy shared the cutest striped dress from Vicidolls on her Insta yesterday that I had to share. I love Venessa's account! She has the cutest style, and I really want pretty much everything she owns in my closet.

Being a marketer and a blogger, I always applaud good content. I know how much work goes into it! The second I saw this photo from Tezza my mind was blown. This photo is absolutely stunning and she should be really proud of it. Such a beautiful way to show off this suit!

I feel like I could own every item that comes in palm print. This includes home decor and stationary haha! Nina from Law Of Fashion Blog shared the cutest palm print romper on her Insta yesterday that everyone needs for the summer.

I have been following along Caitlin from cmcoving's honeymoon through her Instagram all week and I am in love with the photos! She jokes that the majority of her wardrobe on this trip is blue, but that color really does look stunning on her and it matches the location perfectly. I really want to go to Greece now!

You can never go wrong with a black swimsuit. The color will always be flattering! Peyton Baxter shared the cutest black halter bikini on her Insta this week that I just loved. She also shared a beautiful maxi right before that too (also linked below).

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Happy Thursday!

Remember all of those crunches we did in PE as a kid? Let's not forget all of the push ups too! I remember those way too well, but what I don't remember anyone telling me was "engage your core." I didn't hear what that meant until I was older, and I didn't know how to do it until after I hurt myself from incorrect form at the gym.

Because of what happened, I did learn what engaging my core really means which is a positive. I'm more aware of how I should be doing my workout moves which will strengthen me rather than hurt me again. If you're not sure what this means too, then I hope this blog post is insightful!

Engaging your core is just another way of saying do a pelvic tilt. When I was doing physical therapy, I had to do 15-20 of these every visit because I needed to start training my body to know this motion. I've created a Gif below to show the difference between how we normally look: butt is more out with a curved spine compared to the pelvic tilt where you'll see my back is more of a straight line, core is more tucked in. The pelvic tilt is the correct position to be in before doing any exercise that is working your core. For additional information, here's a YouTube video that really shows what I'm describing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VQ5ITSDpaI

To show how your body should look with the initial exercises mentioned, I've created a few more Gif's. For any core movement on the ground, you want to feel your low back flat against the mat or any surface that you're on. By doing this you are protecting your low back from any potential injury.

The next Gif shows the correct form of a push up + a way to strengthen your core and low back if you're weak or have hurt yourself like I have. One of the workout moves that I am doing are called full release push ups. Basically you're starting in a plank position, lowering down to the ground, releasing your hands fully and then either coming back up on your knees or completely back up into a plank. The benefit of doing this is to build your body up. Not everyone has the strength to do a full push up right away and even if you do, you may not be doing it correctly. I know for a fact that my spine was curved in when I was doing push ups previously after learning about the pelvic tilt which could have been one of many factors that contributed to my low back problem.

I truly hope this post was helpful and that I can hopefully prevent future injuries (from not doing this at least).

Monday, June 11, 2018

Happy Monday!

How was everyone's weekend? Chandler, Diesel, Oscar, Felix and I spent the weekend at my parents house for my mom's birthday and I'm sure you already know that the house was packed just from reading all the names on this list haha! I hope she had a good birthday too! This week is definitely going to be a busy one for me. I have a blog photo shoot, work dinner, and I'm watching my friend's dog, a.k.a. Diesel's best friend, Neville.

In the past two weeks I've shared two other looks from the Show Me Your Mumu Barbie Collection and today is my third look. One of my favorite go to looks for the summer is a pair of denim shorts and a cute t-shirt. When you live in 100 degree Florida summers, you can never go wrong with a cool, breathable tee. This tee has the Barbie logo, it's the perfect shade of pink, and would go perfect with light or dark denim. If you want to add a few extra accessories to the look, the v-neck fit gives you the perfect amount of room to add a statement necklace.

Tee: Show Me Your Mumu - currently out of stock but they have been restocking the collection!

Search

Links

About

Hi everyone! My name is Caitlin and I am the creator of Sparkles and Sunshine. My lifestyle blog consists of fashion, fitness, travel, and of course life with my favorite puppy Diesel! I hope you have fun reading!